Our Team

Come and meet the crew at Pacific Yacht Systems.

The PYS team of marine specialists are trained professionals who have a passion for boating. As an ABYC and NMEA certified company, we rigorously follow industry best practices and quality standards.

Jeff Cote

Jeff combined his professional expertise with his passion for boating when he started Pacific Yacht Systems Inc. A systems design engineer (BASc), he graduated from the University of Waterloo, known for its excellence in technical education, and worked as a technical solutions consultant to a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Jeff is actively involved in the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) and is a member of its Certified Marine Electronics Technician development committee. As Western Canada's only NMEA instructor, he holds a NMEA advanced marine electronic installer certification; he also holds marine electrical certification through the American Boat and Yacht Council. Jeff is a certified installer of Raymarine and Garmin electronics.

Satori II, Jeff's Catalina 36MkI sailboat, is moored on the Sunshine Coast, ready to go whenever he has a chance. His favourite cruising grounds are Barkley Sound and the Broughton Archipelago.

Scott Mackenzie

Scott entered the marine electronics industry after graduating from BCIT's Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology program. He started in the marine industry doing computer, electrical, and navigation work on commercial tugboats, then took his broad range of experiences to PYS.

Scott holds NMEA 2000 and NMEA Advanced Marine Electronic Installer certifications, as well as Marine Electrical Certification through the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC).

He is also a certified installer and warranty serviceman of Garmin marine products.

Christine Blair

Christine grew up spending weekends and holidays on her family's sailboat on Georgian Bay, and her nautical experience includes a 2.5-year transoceanic trip from Canada's East coast to Australia. She holds CYA Bronze IV sailing certification and has a passion for boating and the water.

A graduate of Engineering Physics, Electrical Option, from Queen's University, Christine has a strong background in power systems and electrical circuit design and construction, and is an NMEA certified Advanced Marine Electronics Installer. She is happy to combine her passions for boating, electrical design and problem solving at Pacific Yacht Systems.

Melissa Gervais

Melissa grew up boating on Vancouver Island near Cowichan Bay and spent countless hours floating around the Gulf Islands watching killer whales. She graduated from the University of Victoria and has spent the last 25 years as a Corporate Administrator for both public and private companies as well as non-profit organizations. For five years she was a search and rescue volunteer with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and currently serves as a Director and fundraiser for the Strait of Georgia Marine Rescue Society. Melissa can be found cruising the local waters on her 34 foot power boat, As You Wish.

Michelle Haaf

Michelle grew up spending summers and weekends on her family's Catalina 30 sailboat, Dolphin. Living in Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island, she had access to the great cruising ground in the area and made trips to the San Juan Islands, Desolation Sound, and the Octopus Islands. Her favourite summer spot is Teakerne Arm in Desolation Sound.

Michelle is finishing up her last semester at UBC, and will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing. She is responsible for the marketing at PYS and is happy to have found a job where she can combine her passion for marketing and boating.

Jason Twyman

Jason grew up in Queensland Australia where boating was always a part of his life. He completed his 4 year marine electrical apprenticeship on the Gold Coast; a major hub for pleasure craft and boaties alike. The trade certificate he received as an ‘A’ Grade Electrical Fitter/Mechanic allowed him to work on all electrical circuits up to 1000Volts AC. After four years of training, Jason continued to work on various vessels including small but powerful ski boats, game fishing boats, and luxury power and sailing vessels from 20ft- 300ft. His trade and skills took him up and down the east coast of Australia and even across the world to his previous job as a Ships Electrical Officer for a member of the UAE Royal family in Abu Dhabi. When he’s not twisting wires together, Jason likes to enjoy the water by windsurfing and sailing.

Sue Mattice

Sue grew up spending summers sailing on Vaseaux Lake in the Okanagan where her grandparents owned a home, or out on English Bay. After graduating from UBC with a BA in Economics, Sue went on to complete four years in the Certified Management Accounting program, earning her an Associate Accounting Technologist diploma. She worked for several years doing accounting, payroll, and benefits administration before taking the last ten years off to raise her two daughters. Her family of four has owned a power boat for the last seven years and enjoy trips in and around Gambier Island and anywhere in the Gulf Islands.

Aamir Sheriff

Aamir grew up as an outdoors enthusiast in Vancouver with a love for activities such as hiking , camping, canoeing, swimming, and kayaking. He enjoys trips to local areas such as Manning Park, Loon Lake, Elk Mountain, and Strathcona Park for group camping and hiking trips.

Currently in his fourth year as an undergraduate Business major at the SFU Beedie School of Business, Aamir is completing concentrations in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. He is a co-op student with PYS as the Marketing and E-Communications Coordinator. He is happy to have found a job where he can apply his marketing knowledge and learn more, while working with professionals in the marine electronics industry.

James Mullins

James grew up on a sheep and grain farm in outback Australia, where there isn't much call for a boat. When the opportunity to work in a new country and in an exciting industry arose, James jumped at the chance to see life in a different perspective, from the water. James completed his studies at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, Australia, where he graduated as an Electrical and Electronic Engineer. He then worked in project and operations management in the manufacturing industry for several years before making the move to Canada. While in beautiful British Columbia, James plans to make the most of the province's amazing outdoors and everything that it offers.

Q: I have a strange situation. I have a radio and a blower fan on my boat. When I turn on the fan, the radio turns off. The fan switch is right beside the radio, but the fan is further forward. Any ideas?

-Brad

It makes it fun when we can watch the Lions and Canucks while we’re out on the water, says Kathy. And with satellite TV and internet connection, we use the boat more, even if we don’t leave the dock.

-Don & Kathy